The feast of Pentecost commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. After Jesus rose on Easter, he appeared to the Apostles during the next forty days until his Ascension, teaching them the significance of his crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Since the Apostles did not fully understand all that Jesus tried to explain to them, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, who would enlighten and strengthen them to carry the Good News to people throughout the world. “The Holy Spirit gives a spiritual understanding of the Word of God to those who read or hear it, according to the dispositions of their hearts” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1101).
Ten days after Jesus’ Ascension, the Apostles were gathered in prayer in the Upper Room. The Holy Spirit came to the Apostles and they received spiritual gifts that transformed their lives and gave them the power to touch the lives of others. They began to speak in tongues and thousands became believers that day.
“The Church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit ushers in a new era in the ‘dispensation of the mystery’ – the age of the Church, during which Christ manifests, makes present, and communicates his work of salvation through the liturgy of his Church, ‘until he comes’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1076).
The color red on Pentecost symbolizes joy and the fire of the Holy Spirit.
“The HOLY SPIRIT teaches us to see with the eyes of Christ, to live life as Christ lived, to understand life as Christ understood it.” —Pope Francis